Chapter 99

The Celestial Flame Forge

Under the bright moonlight of a clear night—

"You insolent brat! How dare you question me?!"

The furious roar of Sword Emperor Yoo Jin-hak shook the Alliance Leader's Hall like thunder. The sheer force of his anger sent tremors through the ground, as if a minor earthquake had struck.

"Just because the Tang Family has risen among the Seven Great Families, you think you can act so arrogantly before me?!"

Another enraged bellow erupted, and then—

BANG!

The doors of the Alliance Leader's Hall burst open, revealing Se-woon stepping out.

Unlike his usual composed demeanor, his face was flushed with anger. He stormed away, breathing heavily, before suddenly stopping and glaring back at the hall.

"This is...!!"

Suppressed fury and indignation burned in his eyes—emotions he had held back while facing Yoo Jin-hak. With a sharp click of his tongue, Se-woon kicked off the ground and strode away in long, furious strides.

To any observer, it was clear he had just been severely reprimanded.

'Hmm, this should be enough.'

Of course, appearances were deceiving.

Despite his outwardly furious expression, Se-woon's mind was perfectly calm. He hadn't been angry at all—this entire scene had been orchestrated.

Yoo Jin-hak's outburst? Merely a performance at Se-woon's request.

"We might need a little... theatricality."

"Hm? What kind of theatrics?"

"Scold me like a misbehaving grandson. Just raise your voice a bit."

"Ah, understood."

This was all to ensure rumors would spread—that Se-woon had clashed with the Alliance Leader.

As he continued his act, Se-woon subtly scanned his surroundings.

Hidden within the shadows were countless eyes—spies who had been tailing him ever since he was summoned to the hall.

It wasn't hard to guess who had sent them.

'Namgung Myung... That bastard is as persistent as ever.'

Even in his past life, Namgung Myung had been inherently distrustful, never easily placing faith in anyone. Se-woon had expected him to send spies, and now, his suspicions were confirmed.

Rustle—

Suddenly, the presence of the hidden rats vanished all at once.

They had likely rushed back to report to their master.

With no further need for acting, Se-woon's expression smoothed over as if it had all been a lie.

'Hmm. Just as well—I'm almost at my destination.'

As he stretched with a satisfied groan, a familiar pavilion came into view.

And standing before it, waiting anxiously, was a figure whose presence Se-woon had already sensed.

Someone in the distance spotted him and immediately sprinted over.

"G-Grand Artificer! You've arrived!"

The man bowed at a perfect right angle, his voice filled with reverence.

It was Dong Cheon-rip, the master blacksmith overseeing the Martial Alliance's main forge—a man known throughout the martial world for his fierce temper and stubbornness.

Yet here he stood before Se-woon, hands clasped together in utmost respect.

Inside the empty forge of the Martial Alliance's headquarters, where only the two of them remained—

Drip—

"P-Please, have some tea."

Dong Cheon-rip carefully poured tea into Se-woon's cup, his hands trembling with concentration, as if terrified of spilling even a single drop.

This was a man infamous for his explosive temper and vicious tongue—yet now, he behaved like the most deferential disciple.

Se-woon spoke politely.

"Elder, please speak comfortably. I'm barely twenty years old."

"Unthinkable! How could I dare address the Grand Artificer so casually?!"

"I've told you before—I am no Grand Artificer."

"Understood!! If that is your wish, I shall refrain from using the title!!"

Dong Cheon-rip's response was razor-sharp, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as if he hadn't even heard Se-woon's denial.

And why wouldn't he be in awe?

He had personally witnessed Se-woon forge a hundred divine treasures with his own eyes.

After a moment of silence, Se-woon spoke softly.

"Master Blacksmith."

"Master Blacksmith?! Preposterous! How could I bear such a title before the Grand Artificer—no, before the Young Master of the Tang Family?!"

"Then... Elder."

In an instant, the warmth in Se-woon's eyes vanished, replaced by an icy sharpness.

"Do you truly wish to become my disciple?"

"Y-Yes!!!"

Dong Cheon-rip's booming voice echoed through the forge.

Then—

Swish.

Se-woon, still seated, crossed one leg over the other and folded his arms.

"As a blacksmith yourself, you must know the law of the forge?"

"Before the flames and hammer, only skill matters—regardless of age or status!!"

"Exactly. I will not go easy on you just because you are my elder."

"Of course! This disciple would gladly endure even insults from his master!!"

"And from the moment you accept my teachings, my orders will take precedence over even the Alliance Leader's commands. That is the way of master and disciple."

"Naturally!! Command me as you will, Master!!"

Se-woon studied Dong Cheon-rip for a long moment, feigning contemplation ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before finally speaking.

"Then I shall address you as Blacksmith Dong and speak plainly. I cannot teach while using honorifics. Do you accept?"

"Yes!!"

"What are you doing? Now."

"...Huh??"

"Tch! Hurry up and bring the materials!"

"Gah! Y-Yes!!"

Dong Cheon-rip scrambled away in shock.

Though he was the same age as Se-woon's father, Tang Mu-yeol, Se-woon treated him with the sternness of a master disciplining a new apprentice.

And there was a reason for that.

'The reason Dong Cheon-rip was overshadowed by Baek Myo-gong in the past was his arrogance and recklessness. I must break that pride from the start.'

This time, Se-woon intended to elevate Dong Cheon-rip far beyond Baek Myo-gong, the master of the White Night Iron Workshop.

He needed Dong Cheon-rip to fill the void he would leave behind when he departed the Alliance.

"Huff... Huff! Master, I've brought the materials you requested!"

"To the Celestial Flame Forge."

"To the Celestial Flame Forge!!"

Repeating Se-woon's words like a mantra, Dong Cheon-rip strained as he hauled the cart of materials toward the massive forge.

Following leisurely with his hands behind his back, Se-woon approached the forge—twice the size of any ordinary one.

'At last...'

As Se-woon peered inside—

Whoosh!

A pure white flame, like clouds, blazed fiercely within.

This was the Spirit Flame—a fire said to be capable of melting any material in existence.

Se-woon stepped forward and—

"...Master?"

Without hesitation, he pressed down on the forge's bellows.

Whoosh—

FWOOM!

As air surged in, the Spirit Flame roared even higher.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

To the untrained eye, it was just ordinary bellows work.

But—

Hiss—

Golden energy surged violently through Se-woon's meridians.

His Golden Eye Pupils, now at the sixth stage, activated, unleashing their full power.

The Spirit Flame of the Celestial Flame Forge was no ordinary fire—its intensity varied based on the blacksmith's skill.

And now, under Se-woon's control—

CRACKLE!

FWOOSH!!

The flames raged wildly, filling the forge with blinding light, turning the darkened workshop as bright as day.

'A-Ah...!'

Dong Cheon-rip trembled just from watching.

Even as one of the world's top blacksmiths, this was on an entirely different level.

Thump! Thump-thump!

His heart pounded as if about to burst.

Tears welled in his eyes from sheer awe.

Was I born just to witness this moment?

It was unbelievable.

And Se-woon hadn't even begun forging yet.

"Huu."

Click.

Se-woon stopped pumping the bellows.

Unlike the exhilarated Dong Cheon-rip, his face remained utterly impassive as he examined the flames.

"Tch. Only about seventy percent. The flame's been burning too long—it's not reaching full power."

"?!?!"

Dong Cheon-rip's jaw dropped.

'T-This isn't even its full strength?!'

That sun-like inferno... and it wasn't at its peak?

At that moment, Se-woon seemed less like a man and more like a towering giant in Dong Cheon-rip's eyes.

"...Divine Craftsman."

The words slipped out unconsciously.

Then—

Swish.

Se-woon turned to him.

"Prepare yourself. Today, we forge a Divine Artifact."

"A D-Divine Artifact?!"

Dong Cheon-rip nearly fainted.

This wasn't something to be spoken of so casually.

Not a treasure—but a Divine Artifact.

Even the Martial Alliance's vast treasury, filled with countless priceless treasures, held only two such relics.

Divine Artifacts could only be born through heavenly fortune or the skill of a Divine Craftsman.

Most known Divine Artifacts in history had been accidental creations—products of sheer luck.

Swallowing hard, Dong Cheon-rip hesitantly asked:

"...Master, what kind of Divine Artifact do you intend to forge?"

A sword? A saber? A spear?

A bow, a shield, or armor?

His eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"A fan."

"A... fan?"

"To be precise—an Iron Fan."

...Just a fan?

Disappointment flickered across Dong Cheon-rip's face before he could stop it.

And in that instant—

Se-woon's gaze turned glacial.

"You dare."

"Ghk! M-Master, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I didn't mean—!"

Se-woon looked at him as if he were trash.

"All weapons hold equal worth. The only difference lies in the skill of the blacksmith who forges them."

"...!!"

"And yet, you—with your pitiful, insect-like ability—dare to look down on my choice?"

"I-I apologize!!"

Thud.

Realizing his mistake, Dong Cheon-rip immediately dropped to his knees.

His face had gone deathly pale.

"Master, forgive me! I was arrogant! Please, give me another chance..."

He was on the verge of tears, desperate not to lose this opportunity to learn from a true master.

Se-woon's voice was cold.

"One more act of disrespect, and I will cast you out without hesitation."

"I-I swear it won't happen again!! Forgive me, Master!!"

"Hmph. Just pour out the materials."

"Y-Yes!!"

Bolting up, Dong Cheon-rip rushed to the cart.

THUD!

CRASH!

He upended it, sending the materials spilling onto the ground.

And among the scattered ingots—

Clang!

Hiss—

The Winter Lock Ring, a reward Se-woon had received from the Alliance, radiated a sinister, bone-chilling aura.

'Now, for the first one...'

Today, Se-woon would forge two Divine Artifacts.

And the primary material for the first was this very Winter Lock Ring.

For a brief moment, a memory flashed through his mind—

"Isn't it beautiful? The grand spectacle we've created, you and I."

Thousands of corpses, scattered like a blizzard across a field of white snow.

Amidst the carnage, a silver-haired woman hid her face behind a white fan, smiling eerily at him.

In his past life, this had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been one of the Ten Great Demon Arms.

The Water-White Fan of Annihilating Snow—wielded by none other than Xue Yi-Lang, the Frost Demon Sovereign of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.